‘Mythica VR’: VR LARP With D&D-style World Building Hits Kickstarter

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Arrowstorm Entertainment is what you might call ‘serial Kickstarters’, as they’ve successfully completed 13 different campaigns on the crowdfunding site—mostly focusing on small budget sword and sorcery flicks starring the likes of Kevin Sorbo from Hercules (1995) and Kristian Nairn (aka Hodor) from Game of Thrones (2011). Now looking to VR for their next project, Arrowstorm is putting together a live-action role playing game with the level-building capabilities of Dungeons and Dragons. The game is called Mythica VR.

The game, which is projected for a July 2017 release, is said to include a map builder so would-be game masters can design levels, place items, and populate the dungeon with monsters—something Arrowstorm says can be done in either a desktop-based top down map editor, or a more immersive VR editor.

Just like in tabletop role-playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, the game master in Mythica VR is supposed to strings quests together into campaigns, and generally direct the flow of the story. But in Mythica VR, game masters will have the ability to jump into NPCs so they could technically act the part of a monster or a helpful questgiver.

Provided the project reaches its $80,000 funding goal, the studio is aiming to release Mythica VR on HTC Vive, Oculus Rift/DK2, Google Cardboard and with future support for Google Daydream.

“It’s not full role-playing for me unless I’m with my party,” says Rogan Griffin, lead engineer on Mythica VR. “There is nothing like when you’re being overwhelmed by a horde of undead skeletons and you hear the battle cry of your friend as he hacks his way in and saves you.”

Griffin comes to the Mythica VR from Pixar Studios, with previous work as a visual effects artist for films such as Brave (2012),Toy Story 3 (2010) and Up (2009).

The project will focus heavily on motion controlled interactions like sword play and point-and-click teleportation, which for the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift (with soon to release Oculus Touch) is pretty well established. But for Google Cardboard, Mythica VR is promising support for a sort of improvised motion controllers set-up that allows you to use two other smartphones networked over WiFi. The phones, much like Wiimotes, use their inertial measurement unit (IMU) to determine the orientation and acceleration of the handsets. This set-up however doesn’t provide positional information, neither for the headset nor the improvised controllers, so just how immersive the Cardboard solution will be remains to be seen.

Campaign Rewards

Pledge $20 or more – The game on release, for PC with the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift, or iOS or Android with Google Cardboard. Estimated Jul 2017

Pledge $30 or more – For those who’re eager to start we’re offering early access to the game, and continual updates as it is being developed. This reward level is perfect for Game Masters who want to start building their quests now so that they’re ready for their gaming group to play on release. Estimated Dec 2016

Pledge $65 or more This reward comes with a Google Cardboard headset, branded with Kickstarter exclusive Mythica VR artwork, so you’re ready to go on your phone the day of release. Also includes: The game on release for PC, iOS or Android, the digital soundtrack, a Kickstarter exclusive weapon for your character. Estimated Jul 2017

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Really disappointed that movement will be point-and-click teleportation.

Seth

I know they tried other options, it’s the only way to beat motion sickness.

Jim Young

“You may also optionally enable touching a button on of one of your hand controllers to move forward if you happen to be immune to motion sickness.”

Sammy

That’s cool, but teleportation almost seems like a cheat code. Like if you’re firing arrows at an approaching enemy, you can just teleport to the other side of the map when they get too close. Maybe I’m overthinking it, especially since I don’t know the exact dynamics yet, but it seems like it might take out some of the thrill.

NobleBrutus

You can only teleport short distances. Many games have a sprint mechanic that works well also or a kind of ‘cool down’. Mostly though, and especially with a roleplaying game like this, gamers should just immerse themselves and have a good time.

Chris

But give at least the option for movement. Seems that less tan 5% are actually suffer from motion sickness.

yobibyte

Less than 5%? Your wild optimism is not based in reality. A majority of people experience VR/sim sickness. There is a very vocal minority that doesn’t, but it is just that, a minority. I am however all for devs including many turning and locomotion options.

claiming a majority of people experience VR sickness is a straight up lie.

WyrdestGeek

This is a great idea, but IMHO, it’s still three or more years too early.

I see this sort of LARP-video game hybrid really taking off when it can be done with AR — or MR, whatever.

I wish them all the best though.

—
Furry cows moo and decompress.

yobibyte

No matter the merits of the media they have produced, any studio that has paid money to that arrogant fundamentalist Christian douchecanoe Kevin Sorbo will never get any money out of my wallet, only piracy. I hope he has another stroke and that it leaves him brain dead this time instead of with just minor vision loss.

sirlance

Ill support …but please have the option for locomotion or teleport….I do not get motion sickness and I hate teleport…the solus project has both and it’s great…along with spell fighter…so please add that for us who have our VR legs!

It seems to me that motion oriented combat isn’t really simulating table-top roleplaying. I suppose “larping” is closer to what they’re actually doing, although I think that’s not the audience that they’re looking to support this experience.

BigKate

This is exactly the sort of game that would benefit from a controller like the RovR http://www.wizdish.com/ or the Virtuix Omni both of which can simulate a gamespad

Jed Holtzman

I like this. It is engaging and interactive, unlike other VR experiences.
I just checked out a different one on YouTube I want to try called Little Molly. Looks interactive. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6JT00_GuVs